Is Your Home “Visitable”?

Posted on

Jul 18, 2016

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Everyone enjoys socializing and entertaining family and friends, so when your guests visit, can they move around freely with minimal assistance in your home?
Wanda Gozdz, a residential interior designer and Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS), is an expert on the subject of making a home visitable and says that every persons home should meet these key elements:

Have at least one zero-step free entrance into the home (zero-step OR step-free not both)
Minimum 32 wide interior door/s with lever handle
Minimum 36 wide level route on ground level except, at doorways
Full bathroom on the ground floor, with all walls reinforced for installation of safety bars
Light switches, electrical outlets, thermostats and other controls at accessible heights

These features provide safety, stability, comfort and ease of use for all visitors regardless of age or ability and provide for a long lasting independent lifestyle for inhabitants. They also allow homeowners to modify their space as their lifestyle changes.

Other modifications Gozdz recommends include:

Changing lightbulbs from incandescent bulbs to LED, white light, or compact florescent, which emit blue light or white light
Using a bulb that is 800 LUMENS or higher, which instantly improves our ability to see better
Replacing scatter rugs with a min 20X40 gel pad at work areas, which reduces fatigue when standing and allows a person to transition safely onto different surfaces
Using contrasting colors on walls, counters and floors, which helps with depth perception and provides clear line of sight when navigating throughout the home and in working areas

These simple and cost effective steps provide safety, stability ease of use and promote independence.

Editors Note: Gozdz is author of Sensible Smart Tips for Living in Your ForeverHome a walking tour guide through the home to determine modifications that will enhance quality of life. Gozdz, an instructor for the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) teaches a three day Certified Aging in Place (CAPS) Designation Course.

For more information on courses or events Contact Wanda Gozdz, President, Golden Age Living, LLC, PO BOX 1553, Deerfield Beach, FL 33343, 954.401.5948, email wegcaps@att.net or visit www.goldenageliving.com.

National Association of Home Builders(NAHB), 2007, Marketing & Communication Strategies for Aging in Place & Accessibility, Washington, DC, pg SG-1-8.

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